The images below show my homemade recumbent bikes. Both are full suspension over seat stearing short wheel base recumbents (OSS SWB). The frames are 50mm exhaust pipe, seats 1.6mm thick steel with neoprene foam. Stainless steel handmade luggage racks are fitted.
I handbuilt the wheels, generally available in 20" are BMX or childs mtb. BMX have the wrong type of hubs and kids mtb are low quality.
Some parts were reclaimed from the donor bikes (childs mtb with 20" wheels) but many have been upgraded.
My bike (blue / silver) has: Shimano Deore V brakes, Shimano 8 speed cassette and derauiller (with two and a half standard chains), Airzound horn and computer. Wheels are quick release Shimano hubs, 8 speed cassette and stainless steel spokes.
Are you crackers? - Probably
Recumbent? - Yeh called this because of the position of the rider (recumbent means laid down)
Is it hard to ride? - The balance is awkward at first but it comes eventually
Is it fast? - On paper faster than an upright or 'diamond frame' (much less wind resistance) but it has the same engine and my speeds are generally similar whichever bike i ride.
Is it safe? - Cycling can be dodgy, many drivers don't think you should be on their road so you need your wits about you whatever your bike but generally i get more respect on this than my ordinary bike.
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